'Huge blow' - Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta insists Thomas Partey & Jurrien Timber injuries have changed the course of Gunners' season

Timber, acquired from Ajax for £40m ($52m) last summer, suffered a serious knee injury, limiting him to only 50 minutes in the opening league game of the season. Whereas, Partey has only been able to feature in four games as he is nursing a significant thigh problem. The injuries to both the key players have been a major disappointment for Arteta as he has been forced to chalk out an alternate strategic plan in their absence.

Speaking to reporters, Arteta said: "It was a huge blow. Everyone could see from day one what he was going to bring to the team. The versatility, the quality, the leadership. And an ability that we did not have in the backline. It was a huge blow, as well, losing Thomas. We had other plans as well with him, to become very versatile and unpredictable in our way of playing. We have not had them and that is difficult. We have them in the building, which is a joy. But we have not had them on the field as much as we wanted.”

While Partey was deployed as a right-back, who often drifted inside at the centre of the park, Timber was deployed as a left-back against Nottingham Forest. Although the Gunners made a strong start to the Premier League campaign, they seem to have lost their mojo in the recent past losing their past two games against West Ham & Fulham, respectively. However, Arteta stressed the importance of playing to the strengths of available players to get back on the winning track.

"It will depend on the players that we have available,” said Arteta. "We have to play to the strengths of the players, that is the first thing. I don’t want players to do things that they don’t feel comfortable doing. That is the first principle that we have to apply. Play everybody to their strengths - we have some really good players, and we will win matches for sure.”

Arteta informed that both players are long-term absentees and will not be back in training anytime soon.

“Unfortunately, that’s a very long-term injury. He (Timber) is doing really well but he is still far from being fit to train with the team. We don’t expect him back anytime soon," he revealed.

Whereas, Partey remains “far from training with the team” despite previous speculations of a potential January return.

Arsenal return to action against Liverpool in a blockbuster FA Cup third-round fixture at the Emirates on Sunday.